good news! The annual “Winter Tour to Tibet” has been launched. From January 1 to March 15, 2023, all tickets to scenic spots except temple scenic spots are free! The Potala Palace, which was closed due to the epidemic in August last year, also reopened to the public on January 3, and can be visited for free until March 15.
So, when are you going to restart your long-suspended trip to Tibet?
Lhasa, a pure land in the secular world
Since Songtsan Gampo moved the capital to Lhasa more than 1400 years ago, this city has attracted the attention of the world just like its altitude. It is no longer a destination that needs to be given a reason. Travelers always link it with beliefs, which are both half-understood and mysterious and sacred. Whether Lhasa is an “Utopia” or not, you will have the answer in your heart after you finish the tour.
Potala Palace
“Potala” is a transliteration of Sanskrit, meaning the residence of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Standing on the top of the Red Mountain, it is the palace of the ancient Tibetan king and the Dalai Lama, and it is also the sacred place of this land where “Om Mani Padme Hum” is recited. From bottom to top, the Potala Palace is divided into three parts: Syracuse, White House, and Red Palace. Whether it is architecture, historical significance, or cultural relics, it is enough to be proud of the world.
Due to the control of the epidemic, the Potala Palace will be closed from August 2022, and now it has finally resumed visiting, and it is free for a limited time. Reservations can be made through the WeChat mini-program “Potala Palace Ticket Reservation System” one day in advance.
Jokhang Temple
In the 7th century, Songtsan Gampo built the Jokhang Temple for her after marrying Princess Chizun of Nibhara (now Nepal). The name of the city was derived from the “Ja Sa” in the original name of the Jokhang Temple “Ja Sa Qulang Zulakang”, which has always been regarded as the heart of Lhasa and the center of belief in the whole of Tibet.
The Jokhang Temple is divided into three floors. The biggest attraction is the life-size
Buddha statue on the first floor, which is always crowded with pilgrims queuing up. The suggested visiting route is to go to the main side hall on the first floor first, then go upstairs from the pharmacist’s glazed altar in a clockwise direction, and after seeing the highlights on the second and third floors, go down to the first floor to visit the rest of the side halls. Although it is crowded, try to go to Jokhang Temple in the morning, because many side halls will be closed in the afternoon.
Drepung Monastery
Drepung Monastery ranks first among the three major monasteries of the Lhasa Gelug Sect, and was once the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the world. After passing the ticket gate, climb up the steps all the way, with clear road signs to guide, forming a tour loop that first goes up the mountain and then goes down the mountain.
The main hall of Tsochin is very large, with 180 pillars. There are embroidered Thangkas and colored buildings hanging in the center, and Manjusri Bodhisattva, Master Tsongkhapa, and Jiangyang Quji statues are enshrined in the center of the main hall. There is a long wooden cabinet with a hollow bottom on the right side of the main hall, in which are stored the huge thangka exhibited during the annual Shoton Festival, and people bowed and walked under the cabinet for blessings.
Sera Temple
One of the three major monasteries of the Gelug Sect in Lhasa, it was founded in 1419 by King Daci, a disciple of Tsongkhapa. The murals on both sides of the door of the main hall of Serama (Maizhacang) are very exquisite; Seraje Zhacang enshrines Matou Mingwang, one of the three wrathful statues in Lhasa, with a red body and a horse’s head on top of his head. You often see Tibetan children with black marks on their noses here, which is a local custom.
The open-air courtyard behind Seraj Dratsang is the Sutra Debating Hall, which starts at 3:00 p.m. every day. Sera Monastery’s debate is the largest among all monasteries in Tibet. Some monks exaggerate their facial expressions and movements during the debate, which is more like a lively performance. Therefore, the debate in Sera Monastery is even more attractive to tourists than the temple itself.
Travel Tips: Debating Classics
Debating scriptures is one of the ways of learning the Sutras of Tibetan Buddhism, and its history can be traced back to the origin of Buddhism. Many Buddhist masters have become famous through debating scriptures. Xuanzang, an ancient inland monk who went to India, also became famous in this “challenge”. Just like reading a book requires passing various exams, debating the scriptures is as small as reviewing after class every day, and as big as the entrance examination, it is also a test that all monks have to pass.
Debates are usually divided into one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-one. Take one-on-one as an example, in a group of two, one person is in charge of asking questions, and the other is in charge of answering questions. The questioner stands and the answerer sits. The questioner will clap his hands vigorously before each question. When clapping, the right hand is up and the left hand is down, and the clapping is loud. , the movement range is very large, like an eagle spreading its wings, when asking a question, the momentum is compelling, the answerer must answer immediately, and cannot ask back.
One-to-many and many-to-one debates are usually held on more important occasions. For example, in the past annual prayer ceremony, candidates had to debate with multiple elders at the same time before they could obtain a Geshe degree.
sweet tea house
Where can I learn about the local conditions and customs of Lhasa? You don’t need to run around, look around, find a sweet teahouse to sit down, and all kinds of things in the market will be staged around you automatically. At the long tables, people chatted about their homework, blowing cowhide, and sharing sweet tea. It is said that sweet tea is a way of life brought by the British, and it was once exclusive to Tibetan nobles, but now making a sweet tea house is an essential experience in Lhasa.
There are three famous sweet teahouses in Lhasa, and the two “Guangming” teahouses are always buzzing with people. The vast area is full of three religions and nine streams. The environment of Canggu Temple is relatively better. . You should know that the sweet teahouse is also a good place for you to meet travel companions and exchange “information”.
#318 National Road#
Medog hiking
Pai Town in Medog – Beibeng Hiking is almost the only material transportation channel between the southern Himalayas and Baimagang area and the outside world before the highway. This three-day hike will take you from snow-covered mountain tops, through spruce forests, rhododendron forests, etc., and finally to the humid hot zone, where people in the villages have changed from Gongbu Tibetans wearing hats to short-sleeved Moinba people with sleeves.
The itinerary on the first day is Pai Town-Songlinkou-Doxionla-Lage; 18 kilometers, usually at least 6 hours or more. Starting from Songlinkou, continue to climb the height difference of nearly 400 meters, and you will reach the highest point of 4,250 meters in the whole process, and you will see the open mountain scenery in front of you. The first camp, Rag, was in a flat ravine full of tall trees and flowering shrubs.
The second and third days were all hiking in the forest, with undulating, high and low roads that are expected to not pass through canyons. Be especially careful of leeches and mudslides during the rainy season, but you will see real Monba villages. When you finally reach the Jiefang Bridge on the Pentium River, you have completed the crossing from the snowy area to the humid and hot area.
“Bingchacha” Highway
It goes from Bingzhongluo in the north of the Nujiang River to Chawalong Town along the Nujiang River, and then crosses the mountains to Zayu County. Some people do it in the opposite direction. You will pass through the Nujiang Gorge, the last section of the journey into Tibet is very dry, and there are cacti everywhere along the way, some even taller than people.
Of course, when you are approaching the Yunnan-Tibet border, you will see a big rock hanging above the road, named Eagle’s Mouth, and then pass through the Nachaluo Canyon in the northernmost part of the Yunnan section of the Nujiang River. So far, the soil and vegetation along the Nujiang River have become moist and beautiful. , and finally arrived at Bingzhongluo, where “man and god live together”.
But if you are not an off-road enthusiast and do not have rich experience, it is best not to choose this route, because most of this section of road is gravel road, and one section is located on both sides of the Nu River, beside the Nu River There is a section of road dug out of the cliff, and landslides and landslides occur frequently along the road, which is extremely dangerous!
The picture of Tibetan countryside in Shannan’s eternal peace and happiness
The Yarlung Zangbo River is the mother river of the Tibetan people, and its most beautiful section of the valley is the Yalong River Valley, which gave birth to the first Tibetan village, first kingdom, first royal palace and even the first temple complete with Buddhism, Dharma and monks. Today, it is called Shannan, which means the south of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains.
Samye
Samye Monastery is the first monastery in Tibet complete with both Buddhism, Dharma and monks. In the history books, it was Padmasambhava who had just entered Tubo who chose this land. More than 1,300 years later, it still maintains its original pattern. It is shaped like a mandala and guards the center of Tibetan culture. There are also a collection of various artistic heritages since the Tubo period. The murals in the main hall are the most complete, and the entire content can be said to span the entire history of Tibet.
In this mandala constructed according to the Buddhist worldview, the most conspicuous is naturally the Uce Hall (Duojide Hall), which symbolizes the center of the universe, and is also the tallest and most spectacular building in the temple. Its three-story pavilions are Tibetan style, Chinese style, and traditional Indian style. They were designed and constructed by craftsmen from the three places, reflecting the Tibetan worldview.
Ram Ratso
In Tibetan, this lake is the soul lake of the auspicious goddess Tianmu, and it is regarded as the most sacred lake in Tibet. In the reincarnation system of living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism, it has an extraordinary status: when people are looking for the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama and the reincarnated soul boys of the four Hutuktus, they will come here to observe the lake and ask for instructions on the direction of reincarnation. Divine revelation. This ritual began with the Dalai Lama II and has continued until now.
#Shigatse and surrounding areas#
Sakya Monastery
Sakya Monastery is the birthplace of Sakya Sect, which means gray and white land in Tibetan. The complete Sakya Temple includes the South Temple and the North Temple. The South Temple is also the most complete and essential part of the Sakya Temple.From the historical relics such as the Liaoyuan White Conch and the Linghu Vat, you can get a glimpse of the history of Tibet and even China.
The two most famous outstanding figures in Sakya——Sakya Pandita and Dayuan Emperor Shiba Siba, they are not only important Buddhist scholars in Tibetan Buddhism, but also politicians who have influenced the history of Sakya. The “Sakya Proverbs” written by Pandita contains many short, interesting and philosophical Tibetan maxim poems, from which you can get a general understanding of the Sakya School’s proposition of distinguishing good from evil, wisdom from foolishness, and some life philosophies of Tibetans.
Baiju Temple
The Baiju Temple built on the mountain is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and a Great Wall-like wall has been built along the mountain, with a defense mechanism. The most famous building in Baiju Temple is the Auspicious Multi-door Pagoda, which is one of the eight Buddhist pagodas. Its care, cost, and exquisiteness can all be said to represent the craftsmanship of Gyantse’s most prosperous period, as well as the highest craftsmanship of Tibet at that time.
The murals of Baiju Temple are a highlight. The murals here usually use light blue or taupe as the background color, which is generally cool, and also integrates various painting styles of India, Nepal and the Central Plains. The esoteric practitioners in the murals are painted naked in beautiful flowers. Similar painting themes only appeared in the earlier Tuolin Temple, Sakya Temple, and Shalu Temple.
Ali and his surroundings are in hell, but their eyes are in heaven
Bigger than big, of course it can be used to describe Ali. The ancient Zhang Zhung Dynasty who once lived in Ali regarded the Garuda as a totem, perhaps because they believed that only by riding on this soaring bird could they fly across this vast land. Traveling here, you have to overcome the inconvenience caused by the dangerous climate, inconvenient transportation, and difficult food and accommodation, in order to gain a spiritual journey.
Guge Kingdom Ruins
This is the area that archaeologists are most looking forward to discovering. The secrets of the prosperity and demise of the Guge Dynasty are hidden among the ruins. The former Guge Kingdom was supported by two deep canyons on the left and right, with tunnels extending in all directions inside and a solid city wall outside, like a copper wall and an iron wall. Although it is incomplete now, it stands in a lonely and arrogant manner.
Today there is only a group of well-preserved buildings, but when the White Hall, which fully preserves the murals of the 15th century, slowly opens, the space in front of you becomes solemn and gorgeous, from which you can still see the dazzling glory of the year. Note the statues on the ceiling and capitals in the main hall, which have lotus-shaped circular compositions similar to the 11th-century Kashmiri and Bamiyan styles.
As for the interior of the Red Hall – the graceful beauties and the guests gathered in the era of singing and dancing are printed on the walls; there are also murals in the Tara Hall, which still tell the story of Venerable Atisha coming all the way from India. At the same time, the Zanda soil forest near the ruins of the Guge Kingdom is also worth a visit.
Googly Photography Tips
Take sunrise photos: The most common sunrise photos of the front of Guge were taken at the viewing platform next to the parking lot. Adjust the camera position from the sunrise of the Eastern Earth Forest, and the light gradually moves down from the palace on the top until it illuminates the entire ruins. This is also a classic angle for shooting Guge panoramas.
Shooting the soil forest: At sunrise, the light and shadow just pass through the White Palace and the Red Palace to form a backlight. This is also the best camera position for photographing the sunny soil forest on the west side of the valley. Equipping the camera with a gradient gray filter can solve Ali’s large contrast in the daytime, and at the same time use the incomplete walls or caves as the foreground to make the composition interesting and changeable.
Itinerary: It is recommended to live in Zaburang Village, get up at 6:00 in the morning, and walk for about 45 minutes to the front of Guge Gate, just as the sun rises from the east. In the evening, after shooting the sunset, we walked down the mountain for more than 20 minutes, and we can return to the village before it gets dark.
Ali Dark Night Park
Located on the side of National Highway 219 in Shiquanhe Town, it is the first dark night park in Asia with the theme of starry sky. Covering an area of 10 mu, it is divided into three areas. The starry sky experience area provides a special platform for shooting the starry sky; the astronomical telescope observation area provides 20 astronomical telescopes.
Another tourist service area has a black tent inn and provides light meals, and you can watch astronomy science promotion videos. The park is equipped with the largest sundial with a diameter of 5 meters in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Starting from Shiquanhe Town to the park, go southward for 19 kilometers on the asphalt road, and you can reach it in half an hour.
dangre yongcuo
Among the dotted lakes in northern Tibet, Dangre Yongcuo is undoubtedly one of the best. It is formed from the natural good fortune of the prehistoric power, and it is rich and delicate due to the imprint left by human civilization. The meandering lakeshore and jagged hills along the shore, together with the Daguo Snow Mountain in the distance, constitute the most photogenic scenery in northern Tibet.
At the same time, it is also the largest holy lake of the Bon religion and one of the political and military cores of the ancient Zhang Zhung Dynasty. If you have not wandered in the bitter cold area of northern Tibet for half a month, and have the determination and perseverance to “make mistakes again and again”, then we strongly recommend that you only come to Reyongcuo, which condenses all the essence of heaven, earth and people. .
The highest county in China – Shuanghu County
On July 26, 2013, with the approval of the State Council, Tibet’s “Shuanghu County” was formally established. No matter how you describe the desolation here, it is not an exaggeration: the county covers 120,000 square kilometers, which is equivalent to three Taiwan islands, but only 10,000 people live here. With an average altitude of more than 5,000 meters and a frost period of more than 300 days, it can be called a “forbidden zone for life”.
Its attraction to travelers is also obvious: in the northeast of the county sits the 422-square-kilometer Puuogangri Glacier, the largest glacier outside the North and South Poles, also known as the “third pole in the world”. In addition, the inaccessible Shuanghu area has also become a paradise for wild animals, and this is the most likely place to see wild yaks.
However, there is no public transportation in Shuanghu, and only a small number of travelers will choose to drive here during the weather window of July and August. Don’t go if you are not fully prepared.
#317 National Highway#
Zizhu Temple
Founded more than 3,000 years ago, Zizhu Monastery is the largest and earliest Bon Religion monastery in Tibet with the most believers, and it is also the monastery that preserves the most complete Bon Religion rituals and rituals. This is a monastery that is unfamiliar even to Tibetans. Many people only know its name but do not know where it is.
The temple is 4,474 meters above sea level, and the Zongbao-style houses are built on the fantastic cliffs and caves of Zizhu Mountain. The monasteries and monasteries embedded in the strange peaks, the unique Bon religion rituals and rituals, the ancient and primitive Bon religion nude dance, and the novel and unique religious legends will subvert your understanding of Tibetan religious culture.
Chajma Hall
The foundation of the Chajma Hall was laid by the eminent monk of the Dalong Kagyu Sect, Sangji Win. Nepalese craftsmen participated in the design and construction of the hall. It was completed in 1328. The building combines Tibetan and Han styles, as well as Nepalese elements. For more than 700 years, it has been famous for its grandeur, unique architecture and many valuable cultural relics.
The cultural relics collected in the Chajma Hall include: Tuwanglunbu silver Buddha statues, 54 thangkas from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, scriptures written in gold and silver juice, and Indian dragon mud with a history of more than 2,400 years. The statue of Bodh Gaya Pagoda, the “Gadan Pagoda” made of black copper, the gold-plated saddle of King Gesar… Among them, the cultural relics of the White Hall are the most precious.
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